Architect Michael Graves talks about design and Indianapolis

Mar. 4, 2013

Architect Michael Graves grew up at the corner of Kessler Boulevard and Indianaola Avenue. He will be in town March 28 to talk about his life and work, as the guest of honor and speaker at an Indianapolis Museum of Art fundraiser for its Contemporary Design Galleries. / Submitted photo

Written by

Cathy Kightlinger

Michael Graves has designed high-end housewares, like this Alessi tea kettle designed in 1985. He has a new line coming out this month at JCPenney. / File photo

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Indianapolis-born modernist architect Michael Graves has fond memories of growing up in what he calls an “undistinguished” Craftsman house at the corner of Kessler Boulevard and Indianola Avenue. As a youngster, he was a paperboy for The Indianapolis Star with a penchant for drawing.

“Collecting was always the hardest thing,” he remembered. “It was a huge day when somebody paid me the dollar they owed me.”

The world-famous architect has designed three buildings in the Indianapolis area — the colorful St. Vincent Health building (formerly Thomson Consumer Electronics) on U.S. 31 in Carmel, the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple and Downtown’s NCAA Hall of Champions.

Graves is 78 but wishes that he were 38 because there is so much he said he hasn’t accomplished. “I hate that I’m as old as I am,” said Graves, who uses a wheelchair after a 2003 spinal cord infection left him paralyzed from the waist down.

The Princeton, N.J., resident will be in town March 28 to talk about his life and work, as the guest of honor and speaker at an Indianapolis Museum of Art fundraiser for its Contemporary Design Galleries. (For more information, and reservations which are $100 per person, visit www.imamuseum.org or call (317) 923-1331, extension 406.)

In advance, Graves answered a few questions:

Q: What was the first thing you designed?

A: A couch for my apartment in college (at the University of Cincinnati). I couldn’t afford a couch, so I went to the hardware store and found legs and a platform and (added) cushions and put it together.

Q: When did you know you’d “made” it?

A: I never think that way because I don’t think I am very successful. I have time to do a lot of work, and I don’t have the work to do. It’s very frustrating because of the economic downturn has hit architecture very hard.

Q: What are your current projects?

A: A hospital in Omaha and a line of objects for J.C. Penney.

Q: You’ve designed a long line of popular home accessories, like spatulas and tea pots, for Target. What is your favorite?

A: I did a toaster for Target which is, for me, pretty iconic and I thought I’d never be able to top it. Now, we’ve done one for J.C. Penney, which is every bit as good and every bit as iconic. (Graves’ relationship with Target has ended, and his J.C. Penney line will be in stores this month.)

Q: What will you talk about at the IMA?

A: My own grand tour (of European Countries), and I will show some of my own drawings from that period of time.

Q: What do you like to do when you come to Indianapolis?

A: See my son, Adam Graves, who lives in the Northside of Indianapolis. (Graves also said he tries to visit at least one of his buildings.)

Q: What is your favorite building of yours?

A: My favorite is the next one. ... I’m proud of all three of the ones in Indianapolis.

Call Star reporter Cathy Kightlinger at 317-444-6067 and follow her on Twitter @ckightlinger.